Behind the Door

This is the story of a HUMAN LIFE, told in a concise form and with subtle psychological strokes, unfolding over the course of a few days. A young woman named Emė unexpectedly knocks on the door of an Old Man who opens his door to no one. These two people, from different generations and with different experiences, begin communicating through the door that will not open. It gradually becomes clear that the two lonely people are not telling the stories of their lives, but are each living through a drama of survival and opening up. What connects them? Do they really hear one another? Will the doors separating their worlds open? The Old Man and Emė’s slowly unfolding dialogue leads to an unexpected ending...

Written more than a decade ago, Virgilijus Veršulis’s play “Behind the Door,” which has no shortage of tragicomic elements, lends itself to various interpretations. Yet it raises questions that never lose their relevance: why does human connection become hurtful over time, why do we hurt those we love most, and how can we accept and understand another person—young or old, sinful or repentant? This principle of duality is also visible on stage, which is divided into two parts, as it were—one on this side and the other beyond the door. This means that, like looking at a good painting, the audience can watch two excellent actors, Juozas Bindokas and Inga Jarkova-Bučienė, embody their characters simultaneously, each with a distinct acting style. At times realistic and at times absurd, the play’s plot is moving and convincing thanks to their acting strength and expressiveness.

“The production was created for actor Juozas Bindokas—because of him, for him, perhaps even about him. The actor is very natural. He doesn’t need to ‘put it on,’ look at the ceiling or gaze into the distance. His extensive stage experience allows him to act freely. This means Bindokas is an actor of deeply psychological theatre who draws everyone seated in the auditorium into the action on stage,” says theatre scholar Daiva Šabasevičienė.

The production “Behind the Door” is therefore an excellent choice for audiences longing for Lithuanian drama and subtle psychological acting.

Premiere: 2025 03 27
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